The Marlins busted out with a 5-run seventh inning, breaking open a pitcher’s duel and leading to a 6-2 win over the Mets Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.
The Mets knew they were in for a tough game, as they faced Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara. But Chris Bassitt gave a great effort thru six innings. When Francisco Lindor had an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, the Mets had a 1-0 lead.
But Bassitt ran out of steam in the seventh inning and Buck Showalter brought on Seth Lugo with the bases loaded. Lugo’s been much better coming into an inning clean and this was no exception, as he gave up a grand slam to the first batter he faced.
The Mets tacked on another run in the seventh inning with an RBI single by Luis Guillorme. But they could get no closer. They’ll go for the series win in a rare conclusion to a series with a Monday game, with David Peterson getting the start in a 1:10 p.m. game
Yes, I have heard in the radio in outings passed how much better Lugo is during clean innings. While it may have been a better move to bring in Ottavino against a right handed hitter playing his first ever MLB game, it can be considered hindsight. What isn’t hindsight is letting Bassitt load the bases and then giving Lugo and his inconsistent curveball no room for error. So, on a 3-2 count against a prospect the radio guys are saying has very good power to the opposite field and I’m saying “curveball, curveball”, Lugo is afraid to walk him and since his previous curveball early in the count missed by alot, he goes fastball and ball goes out fast.
As Showalter has the reputation as the best manager since Miller Huggins, he has been fired three times and certainly his irrational moves need to be less often. Seth Lugo right now isn’t who we remember.
Gut Reaction: sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug.
Sure it is easy to second-guess. They needed a double play get out of the inning. Lugo and Ottavino similar ground-ball rates. Ottavino has a better strikeout rate. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the batter.
In a positive note, Marte and Lindor had to two clutch hits with two outs in the previous inning. Bassitt pitched good. Let’s take the series today. LGM